West Philadelphia shooting: Woman killed, six shot by gunman on rampage

The gunman has been shot dead by police.

September 17, 2016 14:12 IST

crime sceneReuters

A woman was killed and six others, including two police officers, were injured in an ambush-style attack by an unidentified gunman in West Philadelphia, US. The suspect was later shot dead by police.

According to reports, gunshots were reported from Sansom Street at 11.20 pm local time on Friday.

A 19-year-old veteran with the Philadelphia Police Department, Sergeant Sylvia Young, was sitting in her patrol car when she was ambushed by the suspect. Young was shot at least 16 times, but a bulletproof vest protected her from serious injuries. She sustained most of the gunshot wounds on her left arm.

The suspect fled after shooting Young. During the chase, police say that the suspect fired into a bar, striking a security guard, before taking a woman as a human shield. The woman was also shot in her leg.

The suspect then fled the scene and fired at a white vehicle. Two occupants, a man and a woman, were hit in the chest. Police took the victims to a hospital, where the woman was declared dead. The man's condition is stated to be critical.